designchicagomag.com designchicagomag.com THE MART DESIGN CHICAGO 43 42 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART incorporated with a handmade side table from French Studio Brichet Ziegler, highlight a few of the other items that helped deliver a refined, yet relaxed, look.” With a tight footprint, every space had to work harder; “some spaces had to pull double duty,” Grachan offers. The foyer serves homeowners and guests alike—providing storage while maintaining a strong first impression. “With the updated palette and lighting, furniture—such as the slender-legged bench with an incorporated side table—allows users a space to put on and take off shoes... the simple design serves as a space to collect dropped items.” The team also rethought traditional room roles. Though the condo had a large dining room, the clients didn’t need dining to dominate the space. “They wanted a space that felt quaint when it was just the two of them but also offered the ability to comfortably host a few friends and family,” Grachan explains. Designers custom-made an eclectic banquette and paired it with a classic elliptical Saarinen table in warm rosewood, creating “this amazing balance of comfortable and casual meets unmatched and refined,” Grachan notes. “As this took up only a portion of the large room, we were able to incorporate an additional smaller seating arrangement that is perfect for reading or intimate gatherings.” The kitchen offers another illustration of thoughtful planning, as designers reconfigured the island into a peninsula to create a Parisian café-like eating counter. In the end, the condo doesn’t read as vintage revived or modern imposed—it simply functions with quiet precision. Every design decision aligns how the space looks with how life actually unfolds inside it. n Several seating areas are delineated within the living space. The soft jewel-toned sofa upholstery by Romo Group with pillows covered in Fabricut textiles stands out against the white walls by Benjamin Moore . A subtle wall sconce from Visual Comfort through CAI Designs casts an ambient glow. The primary bathroom mirrors the home’s cohesive design, with Benjamin Moore paint and New Style Cabinets with Katonah Architectural Hardware . Shower tile is from Artistic Tile . Another reading nook in the living space features the Saarinen Womb chair with bold upholstery from Schumacher and floor lamp from CAI Designs . Benjamin Moore paint covers the walls and nightstands in the primary bedroom, with bedside lamps by Michael Cleary and knobs and pulls by Katonah Architectural Hardware .